BGMEA building to be imploded

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will demolish the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) building with controlled explosions. 

Rajuk Executive Magistrate Jasmine Akhter confirmed this on Tuesday outside the building, while a Rajuk team moved to seal it off.

The official said: "We are entirely prepared to knock the building down, which will take us seven days to complete. Firstly, we will demolish the building part-by-part, then, we will detonate dynamites and use bulldozers to tear it down altogether.

“However, we have taken maximum measures — including using ultra-modern machinery for demolition — to ensure the safety of the locals during the procedure.”

Responding to a question, she said: “We are not certain when the demolition process will begin.”

Also Read- Bulldozers ready, police take up positions in front of BGMEA building

ASM Raihanul Ferdous, chief engineer of Rajuk, said the implosion, or controlled explosions, will take place with the assistance of Chinese experts under the charge of Bangladesh Army.

“As per the advice of the Chinese experts, glasses of the building will be removed. The internal lines and electric panels also be removed in the same process,” he said.

According to the court verdict, BGMEA has to bear the expenses of the demolition.   

The last time such a large commercial building was demolished in Dhaka, was in 2007 when the Rangs Bhaban in Begunbari was brought down.

It was done manually by workers and caused 11 deaths.